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Will An Object Exiting The Earth's Atmosphere Experience The Same Thermal Variances/Friction As An Object Re-Entering? I know that with re-entry, there is very high friction acting upon the object that is re-entering: thus the glow that meteors/space shuttles/alien ships (may) get. But does a craft experience the same friction sensation going from earth into space? |
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Launch vehicles definitely experiences heating on the way up. What is different is that the high speed portions are in different parts of the atmosphere with differing densities and thus different amounts of friction. Also, the design of reentry vehicles is almost always focused on converting that 'friction' into heat to ditch orbital kinetic energy. Whereas launch vehicles try to minimize that affect. |
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